World economies reel from Trump's tariffs punch

Straits Times

2 days ago

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The tariffs are a demonstration of raw economic power that Mr Donald Trump sees putting US exporters in a stronger position.
WASHINGTON - Global markets reeled on Aug 1 after President Donald Trump's tariffs barrage against nearly all US trading partners as governments looked down the barrel of a seven-day deadline before higher duties take effect.
Mr Trump announced late on July 31 that dozens of economies,
including the European Union , will face new tariff rates of between 10 and 41 per cent.
However, implementation will be on Aug 7 rather than July 31 as previously announced, the White House said. This gives governments a window to rush to strike deals with Washington setting more favorable conditions.
Neighbouring Canada, one of the biggest US trade partners, was hit with 35 per cent levies, up from 25 per cent, effective on Aug 1– but with wide-ranging, current exemptions remaining in place.
The tariffs are a demonstration of raw economic power that Mr Trump sees putting US exporters in a stronger position, while encouraging domestic manufacturing by keeping out foreign imports.
But the muscular approach has raised fears of inflation and other economic fallout in the world's biggest economy.
Stock markets in Hong Kong, London and New York slumped as they digested the turmoil, while weak US employment data added to worries.
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Mr Trump's actions come as debate rages over how best to steer the US economy, with the Federal Reserve this week deciding to keep interest rates unchanged, despite massive political pressure from the White House to cut.
Data on Aug 1 showed US job growth missing expectations for July, while unemployment ticked up to 4.2 percent from 4.1 per cent.
On Wall Street, the S&P 500 dropped 1.6 per cent, while the Nasdaq tumbled 2.2 per cent.
Mr Trump raised duties on around 70 economies, from a current 10 per cent level imposed in April when he unleashed 'reciprocal' tariffs citing unfair trade practices.
The new, steeper levels listed in an executive order vary by trading partner. Any goods 'transshipped' through other jurisdictions to avoid US duties would be hit with an additional 40 per cent tariff, the order said.
But Mr Trump's duties also have a distinctly political flavour, with the president using separate tariffs to pressure Brazil to drop the trial of his far-right ally, former president Jair Bolsonaro.
He also warned of trade consequences for Canada, which faces a different set of duties, after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced plans to recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September.
In targeting Canada, the White House cited its failure to 'cooperate in curbing the ongoing flood of fentanyl and other illicit drugs' – although Canada is not a major source of illegal narcotics.
By contrast, Mr Trump gave more time to Mexico, delaying for 90 days a threat to increase its tariffs from 25 per cent to 30 per cent.
But exemptions remain for a wide range of Canadian and Mexican goods entering the United States under an existing North American trade pact.
Mr Carney said his government was 'disappointed' with the latest rates hike but noted that with exclusions the US average tariff on Canadian goods remains one of the lowest among US trading partners.
With questions hanging over the effectiveness of bilateral trade deals struck – including with the EU and Japan – the outcome of Mr Trump's overall plan remains uncertain.
'No doubt about it – the executive order and related agreements concluded over the past few months tears up the trade rule book that has governed international trade since World War II,' said Ms Wendy Cutler, senior vice president of the Asia Society Policy Institute.
On Aug 1, Mr Trump said he would consider distributing a tariff 'dividend' to Americans.
Notably excluded from on Aug 1's drama was China, which is in the midst of negotiations with the United States.
Washington and Beijing at one point brought tit-for-tat tariffs to triple-digit levels, but have agreed to temporarily lower these duties and are working to extend their truce.
Those who managed to strike deals with Washington to avert steeper threatened levies included Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, South Korea and the European Union.